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CoffeeCat

(24,411 posts)

154. I think Obama tried to do this iteratively...

Fri Nov 15, 2013, 12:48 AM

Nov 2013

I think Obama tried to go halfway with healthcare reform. I believe this was the only way he was going to get Democrats (and some Republicans) to support ANY reform.

I remember when he told the liberals that we weren't going to get everything we wanted. I trust that single payer was his ultimate goal, but there is no way in hell he could start with that. The health-insurance lobby is just too powerful.

The problem is--Obama (and probably many of us) underestimated the mean-spiritedness and the vindictive behavior of the Republicans. They will do anything to sink Obamacare. They are dissuading people from signing up, so the numbers are low and they can call it a failure. They are working 24/7 to ensure that this thing fails in spades.

I just had a conversation with a friend in California who called the exchange to buy a healthcare plan. She was told that the prices for the various plans won't be revealed until December. So, the frickin health-insurance companies aren't disclosing the plan prices for a few weeks. My friend didn't sign up of course, without the prices. Who the hell would???

There are many forces working against us.

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Sorry I've just got to say it.....A Public Option would have avoided most of this crap [View all] Armstead Nov 2013 OP

Don't apologize. Brigid Nov 2013 #1

I supported (and still support) the public option... Skinner Nov 2013 #2

Would not have been perfect -- but would have avoided a lot of the present problems Armstead Nov 2013 #6

+1. A cheaper better alternative would have been a huge win! grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #157

+1 that is one issue that has nothing to do with this. treestar Nov 2013 #10

It has everything tpo do with this Armstead Nov 2013 #18

If you lie down with Blue Dogs ... WowSeriously Nov 2013 #103

the public option would have been an insurance policy treestar Nov 2013 #108

insurance companies websites WyLoochka Nov 2013 #171

no the big problem is the cost questionseverything Nov 2013 #47

A progressive sliding scale would make a big difference Armstead Nov 2013 #53

A progressive sliding scale is why we needed single payer instead of mandates DJ13 Nov 2013 #83

public option could have a sliding scale questionseverything Nov 2013 #136

Not Keeping existing plans would not have been a problem. MyNameGoesHere Nov 2013 #78

Even if there were a public option, the website still would not work. <- in it's present form, such jtuck004 Nov 2013 #85

Not true WyLoochka Nov 2013 #172

But they are already signing up for Medicare, without this so-called site. So it would jtuck004 Nov 2013 #186

Medicare is an existing program...and has been working now for 50 years. zeemike Nov 2013 #92

+1.. They could have lowered the eligibility age a little bit each year SomethingFishy Nov 2013 #106

Yes but its not cheap Sgent Nov 2013 #149

Where do you get those figures? zeemike Nov 2013 #150

Ok subsidies was the wrong word Sgent Nov 2013 #151

OK fully realized cost. zeemike Nov 2013 #170

I have to disagree. The public plan would provide a cheaper/better plan, nullifying the logic in the grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #156

and very importantly..... Sheepshank Nov 2013 #182

Of course it would have. gcomeau Nov 2013 #3

It's part of the job of principled politicians to convince them otherwise Armstead Nov 2013 #19

I have yet to hear sharp_stick Nov 2013 #4

I said we as a nation collectively screwed up Armstead Nov 2013 #7

There hasn't been a reasonable sharp_stick Nov 2013 #45

True, but there are many of them Armstead Nov 2013 #60

Nor, it has to be said... DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #161

it had passed the house questionseverything Nov 2013 #137

Simply by persuading 1 senator with an ambassadorship, cabinet position or grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #158

EXACTLY!!! bvar22 Nov 2013 #183

No it wouldn't brooklynite Nov 2013 #5

Maybe but.... Armstead Nov 2013 #12

How does adding a Public Option to Medicare address matters? brooklynite Nov 2013 #20

An Option is an improvement over the private insurance monopoly.... Armstead Nov 2013 #26

But that's not what your OP discussed... brooklynite Nov 2013 #42

Would not have been perfect....But a lot more managable than this horrorshlow Armstead Nov 2013 #43

But that was never the plan SpartanDem Nov 2013 #109

And there were enough votes in Congres for the public option Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #8

I said "As a nation we collectively screwed the pooch." Armstead Nov 2013 #13

And you know that how? Evidence? cali Nov 2013 #14

freakin wow cali!!! Are you sseriously asking this question!? uponit7771 Nov 2013 #29

It didn't even make it out of the finance committee: Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #32

Back at the time, had we an outstandingly progressive President who truedelphi Nov 2013 #123

I blame Obama for letting blue dogs write the bill. Dawgs Nov 2013 #40

Lieberman was never going to vote for a PO. JoePhilly Nov 2013 #115

Irrelevant to my point. Also, we'll never know what would have happened. n/t Dawgs Nov 2013 #131

Well, yea get the red out Nov 2013 #9

True, but we should have pushed harder to counter the propaganda Armstead Nov 2013 #16

I'm not zeemike Nov 2013 #97

Why has no Democrat stepped forward to take advantage of the hysteria with a TwilightGardener Nov 2013 #11

Some did but they got ignored or squashed by the "centrist" Democratic establishment Armstead Nov 2013 #15

Now is the time, then. Publicize it out the wazoo, and get Reid to allow consideration. TwilightGardener Nov 2013 #17

I agree...But the horse is out of the barn....at least for a while. Armstead Nov 2013 #22

Not at all...the rollout still would have had huge bugs in it Rex Nov 2013 #21

Not necessarily if it had been phased into gthe present Medicare system Armstead Nov 2013 #23

True if they would have gone that route, but they did not. Rex Nov 2013 #25

I'd rather not be having this conversation....I'd much rather... Armstead Nov 2013 #31

I hear that, Nixon and Agnew should have never been allowed Rex Nov 2013 #52

Well, duh. Orsino Nov 2013 #24

No, ... no it wouldn't uponit7771 Nov 2013 #27

Complain to Joe Lieberman... PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #28

It was a failure of the entire political syatem as it is now rigged Armstead Nov 2013 #33

That would include Harry Reid. tblue Nov 2013 #79

and Max Baucus who had single payer advocates arrested at a hearing solarhydrocan Nov 2013 #90

tell me how it would have passed in congress? lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #30

The same way that peace and harmony would avoid most wars. randome Nov 2013 #34

So we should never have ideals or goals? Armstead Nov 2013 #39

No, not at all. You're right, cynicism is our worst enemy. randome Nov 2013 #48

Maybe not single payer...But the Public Option was a compromise on that Armstead Nov 2013 #58

Lieberman and the blue dogs said no at the time. A Medicare for those 55 and above was thrown down lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #59

we had plenty of votes to go to reconciliation in the senate questionseverything Nov 2013 #138

The reality was it wasn't going to happen because there were not enough progressives. Until there lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #139

we had more than 50 senators on record supporting it questionseverything Nov 2013 #142

a Pubic Option Bill was passed in the house Rilgin Nov 2013 #77

Yes I remembr the frustration over that Armstead Nov 2013 #93

Great post. go west young man Nov 2013 #152

Sorry. go west young man Nov 2013 #153

No Need for apology Rilgin Nov 2013 #191

If more Democrats had shown backbone... Armstead Nov 2013 #37

Exactly. And one of the big reasons they gave for not pursuing it was it would behard to set up. jwirr Nov 2013 #35

Shouldn't be hard to set up, there are many excellent working systems throught the world NorthCarolina Nov 2013 #140

Don't be sorry. Iggo Nov 2013 #36

Was a figure of speech... Armstead Nov 2013 #38

Welll yeah, that. Iggo Nov 2013 #50

No s#!t. Cleita Nov 2013 #41

That's too straightforward Armstead Nov 2013 #46

Absolutely libodem Nov 2013 #44

How would a public option stop insurers from canceling policies? ProSense Nov 2013 #49

It might not. But.... Armstead Nov 2013 #54

Oh you can say it, but does that help us in the next election? Savannahmann Nov 2013 #51

I'm not talking about the partisan political frame Armstead Nov 2013 #56

But there is no way to accomplish anything without partisan politics. Savannahmann Nov 2013 #86

True but they have to be hand-in-hand Armstead Nov 2013 #94

Public Option wouldn't have prevented web site problems... or cancelled policies scheming daemons Nov 2013 #55

To repeat from my original post... Armstead Nov 2013 #57

It would have had it's own "disasters" included with its implementation. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #69

Unless the public option was Medicare. zeemike Nov 2013 #104

Must've missed the roll-out of Medicare part D jeff47 Nov 2013 #116

Not the same thing zeemike Nov 2013 #118

There would be something that goes wrong. jeff47 Nov 2013 #119

Well I never went on line for Medicare... zeemike Nov 2013 #120

Actually, you did choose a plan. jeff47 Nov 2013 #122

Yes but that system is already there and working. zeemike Nov 2013 #125

Not always. jeff47 Nov 2013 #126

Well of course you are right. zeemike Nov 2013 #129

I agree. Tell Joe Lieberman. jazzimov Nov 2013 #61

Everyone blocked it -- each in our own way Armstead Nov 2013 #64

Yup ... trying to put a square peg into a round hole. 1000words Nov 2013 #62

+1000 Cleita Nov 2013 #68

Free healthcare for all paid for by 90% tax rate on those with incomes above $750,000 Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #63

A public option is a lot more moderate than that, and you know it Armstead Nov 2013 #65

no. I accurately said neither would have passed the senate. which is the point. Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #66

Yes. I acknowledge that in terms of the make of Congress at that time...and its worse now Armstead Nov 2013 #71

hey, I'm agreeing. Need a whole lot more education of the public to get critical mass Pretzel_Warrior Nov 2013 #72

Okay I agree with that Armstead Nov 2013 #76

Too many in Congress and the WH get big $$ from the insurance companies to support this...nt Clear Blue Sky Nov 2013 #67

So would a magic wand, if we'd had one that could have given pnwmom Nov 2013 #70

No...If we allowed a situation where one man can hold off systemic reform... Armstead Nov 2013 #74

33% of CT Democrats chose Lieberman over Lamont, the Democratic primary winner. 1000words Nov 2013 #80

""mandatory" coverage that conservatives hate"? thesquanderer Nov 2013 #73

You are correct -- and that's why this is all so sadly ironic Armstead Nov 2013 #75

Like you, I would have preferred there be a public option karynnj Nov 2013 #81

indeed. nt xchrom Nov 2013 #82

Eliminate the Medicare age requirement and tax the rich to pay for it. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #84

K&R quinnox Nov 2013 #87

But we'll never get it DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #88

I've been trying to get signed up for an individual policy and can't. JEB Nov 2013 #89

K&R LittleBlue Nov 2013 #91

We told you so NoOneMan Nov 2013 #95

I agree--a public option was never considered from day one AndyA Nov 2013 #96

Don't apologize, but talk to those Blue Dog Democrats, many of them no longer in Congress, Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2013 #98

In polls, 71% of the public favored the public option as part of reform. Before the wiggs Nov 2013 #99

I've been trying to look at the bright side of what we got, but this is a reminder that democracy yurbud Nov 2013 #100

Yep! Borchkins Nov 2013 #101

You know... I knew it was wrong from the beginning... ReRe Nov 2013 #102

I waited a long time to say it Armstead Nov 2013 #105

Do you actually know someone who is in that position? ReRe Nov 2013 #111

Public options fix websites? SpartanDem Nov 2013 #107

There were different versions kicking around at the time Armstead Nov 2013 #121

A public option The Wizard Nov 2013 #110

I do not give a fuck what conservatives hate. Enthusiast Nov 2013 #112

K & R !!! WillyT Nov 2013 #113

The ACA isn't the end. It's the beginning. jeff47 Nov 2013 #114

It's just the first step, but when will we start working on step 2? nm rhett o rick Nov 2013 #133

Well, can't do public option or single payer until at least 2017.... (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #145

The Republicans would have called it communism! DireStrike Nov 2013 #117

They call EVERYTHING "communism!" DissidentVoice Nov 2013 #162

If we had had political leaders and not bought and paid for mercenaries truedelphi Nov 2013 #124

ty true questionseverything Nov 2013 #141

Of course - TBF Nov 2013 #127

Someone please tell me sulphurdunn Nov 2013 #128

It confers about the same benefit that having 50% of our profit margin truedelphi Nov 2013 #143

Thanks for the comparison. sulphurdunn Nov 2013 #166

Here's some nice cartoons, whose creators think like you and truedelphi Nov 2013 #190

Forward, not back. IronLionZion Nov 2013 #130

A public option was D.O.A. in front of the Senate Committee Botany Nov 2013 #132

Let us hope it is the "slippery slope" so greatly feared by detractors. libdem4life Nov 2013 #134

Just lower the age for Medicare. muntrv Nov 2013 #135

Well said. Thank you! nonoxy9 Nov 2013 #144

Medical for All (Single Payer)would have been the EASIEST 2banon Nov 2013 #146

I knew we were screwed Change has come Nov 2013 #147

And a lot more of the crap that's coming up Doctor_J Nov 2013 #148

I think Obama tried to do this iteratively... CoffeeCat Nov 2013 #154

This is the result area51 Nov 2013 #155

Or to hitch themselves to it. Now is the time to attack with a strong push for a public option. grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #159

Yes, but how would very, very rich people get richer? That's number one. nt valerief Nov 2013 #160

this is what happens when you run with the hares and hunt with the hounds srican69 Nov 2013 #163

Absolutely Correct louis c Nov 2013 #164

A public option would put the for-profit predators out of business in a decade. Scuba Nov 2013 #165

At the time, congress passed what they could! Win back congress B Calm Nov 2013 #167

Actually, it should have been the only reform in addition to Medicaid. Mass Nov 2013 #168

It would have been a better start Armstead Nov 2013 #169

You're absolutely right but... jimlup Nov 2013 #173

Nah....Watch Fox News Armstead Nov 2013 #179

Yeah actually now that I think about you're right jimlup Nov 2013 #185

medicare for all..... BlueJac Nov 2013 #174

Medicare for All paparush Nov 2013 #175

"We told you so" Estevan Nov 2013 #176

I think for myself and still say I told you so. Armstead Nov 2013 #180

Blinding flash of the obvious Politicub Nov 2013 #177

It's obvious but still sad and infuriating Armstead Nov 2013 #181

Agree 100% blackspade Nov 2013 #178

Well yea we wouldn't have got a plan at all in that case n/t doc03 Nov 2013 #184

We needed a Democratic House . . . everyone wanted single payer... fadedrose Nov 2013 #187

The planet on which an America had a Congress capable of passing single-payer... Orsino Nov 2013 #188

I said public option, not single payer Armstead Nov 2013 #189

Trouble is, the same forces would be arrayed against a public option. Orsino Nov 2013 #192